University Takes Down Historic Paintings over Concerns They’re Having ‘Harmful Effects’ on Students

The University of Wisconsin–Stout took down two historic paintings of colonial settlers and Native Americans over concerns that they might be having a “potentially ‘harmful effect’” on people who see them.

“Because of the risk of ‘having a harmful effect on our students and other viewers,’ the paintings will not appear in the new Harvey Hall and will be placed into storage,” Chancellor Bob Meyer announced, adding that the storage place will be a sort of “controlled gallery space” accompanied by historical “context,” according to The National Coalition Against Censorship.

The announcement comes after a meeting with the school’s Diversity Leadership Team, which noticed the potentially hazardous paintings this summer, according to an article in the College Fix.

According to NCAC’s report, Meyer didn’t ask for any other input before making the decision to remove the paintings — and not everyone is happy about it.

“Shrouding or moving the painting does not educate anyone or stimulate any learning or dialogue,” an English and philosophy professor at the school, Timothy Shiell, said in a statement.

“American history and representations of that history can be ugly and offensive,” he added. “But hiding them doesn’t change the past or the future.”

Photos of the paintings are available here. Personally, I don’t find them to be particularly eye-catchingly offensive. What’s more, I think it’s important to expose ourselves to parts of history that are uncomfortable. After all, in order to best understand the present, it’s important to know as much as we can about the past.

#related#Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the paintings belong in their original locations. I could understand why, if there were students who actually did feel uncomfortable with the placement of these paintings, it would be worth having a discussion about whether they should remain where they are. But the opportunity for this kind of discussion was exactly what was taken away by Chancellor Meyer’s action — and throwing away a chance for students and staff to learn from each other seems like the wrong approach for any college campus to be taking.